Between festival announcements and the warming weather, outdoor concert season is nearly upon us. That includes KZUM’s Stransky Park summer concert series again this year.
Each year, the community radio station hosts a weekly series at the Lincoln park and this year sees its expansion from 10 concerts last year to 12 this year. Shows will take place every Thursday from May 14 to July 30. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Stransky park is on 17th Street, just north of Van Dorn.
The lineup is true to much of what KZUM plays over its airwaves: local music featuring traditional, blues- and roots-based genres. KZUM hosts our radio show, Hear Nebraska FM, every Monday night from 8-10 p.m.
May 14 — PANgea (LPS Select Steel Drum Group)
May 21 — Lil Slim Blues Band (Blues)
May 28 — Victor & Penny (Kansas City) (Antique Pop/Vintage Jazz)
June 4 — Lloyd McCarter & The Honky Tonk Revival (Country)
June 11 — Bobby Layne Orchestra (Big Band)
June 18 — Evan Bartels & The Stoney Lonesomes (Americana)
June 25 — Bolzen Beer Band (Polka)
July 2 — Mezcal Brothers (Rockabilly)
July 9 — Sandy Creek Bluegrass (Bluegrass)
July 16 — Floating Opera (Indie/Chamber Pop)
July 23 — All Young Girls Are Machine Guns (Jazzy Pop/Soul/R&B)
July 30 — Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers (Soul/R&B)
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The Bourbon hosts a launch party for this year’s Nebraska Folk and Roots Festival tonight. The festival’s initial lineup will be announced this evening during the show, which includes performances by Lloyd McCarter and the Honky Tonk Revival, Jack Hotel, Bud Heavy and the High Lifes and Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies. RSVP here.
Tonight’s cover is $5, but you can get in for free if you buy a $15 ticket to the festival. The second Folk and Roots Festival takes place July 31 and Aug. 1 at Branched Oak Farm, near Raymond,, about 15 miles northwest of Lincoln. Last year, the festival took place in The Railyard.
After tonight, all access passes will cost $20 until the entire lineup is announced, at which point they’ll cost $25 and one-day passes will cost $15. VIP tickets will be available for $50 and include drink tickets, meals and merchandise.
Jeremy Buckley, Duffy’s Tavern’s talent buyer and festival co-organizer, says Folk and Roots will also be hosting pre-parties for the festival in Lincoln and around Raymond leading up to the festival. He says these parties are a small way to include more local talent in the festival’s scope.
All access passes will gain entry to all pre-parties. Buckley says they expect to announce the full lineup and pre-parties in mid-May.
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The Nebraska music community comes together tomorrow in support of Shaun McCabe at Zipline Brewery in Lincoln (RSVP).
McCabe, a former Hear Nebraska contributor, underwent a rare double lung and liver transplant last month. Zipline is hosting a fundraiser to help assuage medical costs. Local rock and punks bands Thirst Things First, The Ghost Runners and Red Cities will perform. Big Luvs BBQ and Spokes Mobile Wood Fired Pizza will be served.
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Tonight, Peach Kelli Pop plays two Omaha shows. First, the California-based punk band plays Urban Outfitters at 6 p.m. with Eric in Outerspace. We reported last month that cassette tape recordings of the show will be available by mail to all those who attend tonight. Later tonight, the band plays O’Leaver’s with Buhu, It Really Is and Lunch (RSVP). Yesterday we published an interview with frontwoman Allie Hanlon about stepping to the fore of a band, writing for a cartoon show and the stress of making a living on tour. Read it here.
On Sunday night, O’Leaver’s hosts the Maha 2015 lineup announcement. It’s free. The announcement happens at 7 p.m. with music by Mean Street at 8. RSVP here. Any guesses on headliners this year?
Meadowlark’s Songwriter Sunday series continues on Sunday with performances by Jack Hotel and Miniature Horse. RSVP here.
Those are just a few shows that caught our attention. For a fuller listing, check out our statewide music calendar. And please add your events if you don’t see them listed!